Marin wasn’t surprised by the question.
Amid the congratulations and well-wishes and hugs from Denise and Ron, she’d caught the curious looks.
If somebody had told her that this would be her reality eighteen months ago, two years ago, Marin would have kindly suggested the person get a reality check. Then she would have tried to explain how things in Hollywood work and how the paparazzi will try to sell anybody as a couple and the production companies were happy with it because it was PR. It was good for a movie if people believed the leading actors were involved. Marin got that, even though she didn’t particularly see why it mattered. People loved the idea of people being in love, whether they were or weren’t. Just like plenty of people loved to see a star fall, she brooded darkly.
As Abby settled down on the stool across from hers, Marin picked up her sparkling water and debated her answer.
Finally deciding to keep it light, she said, “I’m surprised you don’t already know this. But . . . sometimes when a boy and girl like each other very much . . .”
Abby threw a piece of popcorn at her. Marin swayed to the side and caught it. “Thanks. I was getting hungry.”
“I’m not surprised. You didn’t eat enough to nurture a stick—not even a dead one,” Abby said dryly. Rolling her eyes, she braced her elbows on the kitchen island. “It’s just us. So . . . spill.”
“What’s there to spill? We slept together. I’m pregnant.” Marin shrugged.
“And how long have you been seeing each other?” Abby studied her closely. “I mean, when I saw the two of you last week in Chicago, it seemed like it was pretty obvious and now with the baby and all . . .”
Marin sighed and twirled her straw around in her glass.
“Okay, so you’re not seeing each other?”
“Would you let me finish talking?” Marin asked mildly. “Good grief.”
Unwittingly, her gaze slid up past Abby’s shoulder and she stared outside, unerringly seeking out Sebastien. He was talking with Javi and Keelie and the three of them were laughing. Javi was one of the tattoo artists who worked with Zach and Keelie. As Marin watched, he reached out and slapped Sebastien on the back with enough force to make the taller man stumble.
“So what is there?” Abby asked softly. “I can tell you that Sebastien’s had a thing for you for a long, long time. Zach keeps telling me that was back when he was a kid, but . . .”
Marin couldn’t keep from smiling. “Zach’s a funny one to be mentioning things like that, now isn’t he?” Then she shrugged. “Sebastien? Now, he hasn’t been a kid for a long, long time.”
The two of them shared a look and finally a slow smile cracked Abby’s face. “Well, you aren’t kidding there. He’s a like a little brother to me, but . . . damn, he turned out pretty, didn’t he?”
“Mine,” Marin advised.
Abby chuckled and reached over, grabbing Marin’s hand. “Don’t worry. I’ve got my own Barnes boy to deal with. And trust me . . . one of them is more than enough. You sure you're ready to take that on?”
Marin laughed. “Well, ready or not . . . I’m doing it.”
After a few more minutes, they went back outside, Marin mostly because she wanted to find Sebastien—and get something else to eat. Shooting would be done in two more weeks and she was starving. Screw the cameras. She could have one day to eat, right? Abby was checking on the food. Birthday or not, she didn’t know how to not work, it seemed.
Sebastien wasn’t anywhere to be found, though, and when she noted that Zach was missing, she heaved out a sigh and hunted down Abby once more. “Any idea where Seb and Zach might have gone?”
“Ah . . . if they are going to knock heads, you might as well let them do it.” Abby hitched up a shoulder. “You know at some point a couple of them always end up brawling at these family things. It would almost be . . . boring without it, I guess.” She paused, lips pursed as she thought that over. “No, never mind. I take it back. No, it wouldn’t. It would be lovely.”
“This is over me.” Grimly, Marin turned her back and stared over the sprawling yard, trying to figure out where they might have gone. If they’d come in through the kitchen, she would have seen that. But the house was huge, with a patio that spread around the backyard and half the side yard, opening the house up, so that in almost any room on the lower level, somebody could wander out and stare at the endless panorama of the desert.
One of the rooms was completely off to the side—and completely out of sight from the majority of the people in the backyard. If Marin and Abby hadn’t been standing near the back where a tiki bar had been set up with ice and drinks, Marin wouldn’t have seen it.
“They wouldn’t want Mama Barnes to know,” she said, narrowing her eyes.
Abby followed her line of sight. “She always finds out. Marin, just let them bash heads.”